Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Muskingum University

These numbers should raise immediate red flags. Muskingum's Health and Physical Education program shows graduates earning just $16,067 one year out—less than half what Ohio's median for this field ($33,003) and far below what similar programs at Miami University or Ohio State deliver. While earnings do jump impressively to nearly $40,000 by year four, that first-year figure lands in the 10th percentile statewide, meaning 90% of comparable Ohio programs produce better early outcomes. With $27,000 in debt (matching the state median), graduates face a 1.68 debt-to-earnings ratio that makes those initial years financially precarious.

The dramatic earnings growth suggests many graduates may be working part-time or in internship roles initially before securing full-time teaching or coaching positions. But Ohio has 52 programs in this field, and at least five consistently place graduates at $36,000+ right away. The small sample size here (under 30 graduates tracked) means these figures could shift with more data, but the pattern is concerning enough to warrant serious comparison shopping.

For a family investing in a health and PE teaching degree, this program's value proposition is weak relative to state alternatives. Unless your child has compelling non-financial reasons to attend Muskingum—strong athletic connections, a specific coaching opportunity, or significant merit aid that dramatically reduces that $27,000 debt load—Ohio offers demonstrably stronger options for launching a career in this field.